Sebastian Centennial Task Force Eyes Marketing, Art, History

The Sebastian Centennial Celebration Task Force met Monday, September 18, 2023, to advance preparations for the city's upcoming centennial.

Task force members reviewed minutes from their August 14 meeting. City Clerk Jeanette Williams urged increased public engagement with the centennial webpage, noting a lack of submitted photos and stories from residents. To boost participation, Williams proposed linking the centennial page to the main City of Sebastian website. The Marketing Branch presented a proposal to manage the webpage and social media for no more than $8,500.

Leisure Services Director Brian Benton will contact school principals and the superintendent about an essay contest for students, proposing an October 15 submission deadline. Staff are finalizing prizes for contest winners. Ms. Ware suggested the same October 15 deadline for essay submissions.

The task force considered a centennial mural, recommending the Chamber of Commerce Committee review the idea first. For historical preservation, Marc Gingras proposed the city enter a float in the Homecoming Parade, perhaps depicting the city's original settlers. Jeanette Williams suggested a banner for the Christmas Parade to promote the centennial.

Discussions also covered sponsorships. Task force members noted difficulty tracking which companies had been contacted. The Marketing Branch will resend a link to the business contact list. Cathy Testa offered to share a weekly updated list of received sponsorships.

The next Centennial Celebration Task Force meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 16, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, 1225 Main Street. Residents requiring ADA accommodations for future meetings should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at 388-8226 or [email protected] at least 48 hours in advance.